Hazel North: Man quizzed amid park search in Kilmarnock
Hazel North search: Human remains found in Kilmarnock park
(about 3 hours later)
A man is being questioned by police as the search for a missing woman from Fife centres on a park in Kilmarnock.
Human remains have been discovered in the search for missing woman Hazel North.
Hazel North, 19, from Dunfermline, was reported missing on Friday. She last had contact with her sister on 4 March.
Police Scotland confirmed that the remains were found in Dean Park, Kilmarnock, on Monday morning.
Police have erected a forensic tent and cordoned off Dean Park in Kilmarnock.
Ms North, 19, from Dunfermline, last contacted her family on 4 March. A search was earlier carried out at a property in Kilmarnock.
The scene is near a house in Northcraig Road that was searched on Friday. The man who lives there, who has been named locally as John Davis, 25, is being questioned by police as a witness.
Police have been questioning a man as a witness following her disappearance.
Ms North, who is from the Cairneyhill area of Dunfermline, last contacted her sister on 4 March and told her she was travelling to meet a male friend in Kilmarnock.
A police spokesman said: "Police Scotland can confirm that as part of the ongoing missing person inquiry into Hazel North, officers commenced a detailed search and excavation of an area within Dean Park, Kilmarnock this morning, Monday 24 March 2014.
She has not been in touch with her family since and police said they were increasingly concerned for her safety.
"We can confirm that following the search and excavation, human remains have been discovered at the location."
On Friday, officers searched a house and garden in the town's Northcraig Road but did not find anything suspicious.
The spokesman said a major investigation crime scene was in place and a detailed and structured examination of the site would be carried out by specially trained forensics officers.
It is understood that Mr Davis lives at the property.
Police said: "This may be lengthy process due to the complexities of the site and would be done in a sensitive manner to ensure the integrity of the scene."
Police appeal
The remains will be taken to the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow for a post-mortem examination to be carried out.
On Saturday, police said there had been a possible sighting of Ms North in Stranraer, where her family lived, earlier this week.
Late on Sunday night, police cordoned off an area of Dean Park in Kilmarnock, in connection with the inquiry.
Supt Neil Kerr told BBC Scotland police were only informed of the teenager's disappearance on Friday.
He also said she had recently been living in Stranraer with family and had contacted her sister by phone or text message.
He urged Ms North, or anyone who who knows where she is, to contact police.
"Hazel, if you are out there, can you please get in touch with police as soon as you can and let us know that you are ok," he said.
She was described as being 5ft 8in in height and of slim build with a fair complexion. She has brown hair.
Supt Kerr said a number of officers throughout the country were working on the inquiry.
